FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions – Skills for Care Funded Leadership Training
1. Who are these programmes for?
Our Skills for Care leadership programmes are for care providers in England who want to develop current and future leaders, including team leaders, deputies, registered managers and senior managers in care homes, home care, supported living and community services.
2. Which programmes and courses do you offer?
We currently offer:
• Skills for Care Licensed Programmes: Lead to Succeed, Well-Led, Leading Change Improving Care (LCIC)
• Skills for Care CPD Modules: Understanding Performance Management, Understanding Self-Management Skills, Understanding Workplace Culture
All are delivered live and virtually.
3. Are the programmes fully funded?
Yes. For eligible adult social care employers in England, places are fully reimbursable through the Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS), up to the published funding caps (for example £525 per learner for Lead to Succeed, Well-Led and LCIC). The CPD courses are also fully funded (£135 per course).
4. Do we have to pay upfront?
Yes. CareTutor invoices for places before the programme starts and payment is due in advance. Once your learners have completed, your organisation claims the funding back from LDSS using the invoice and certificates we provide.
5. How do we apply for LDSS funding?
To access LDSS funding, your organisation must complete two key steps:
- Make sure your ASC-WDS account is up to date o You must have an active ASC-WDS (Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set) account with at least 90% of staff records updated in the last 12 months.
More information:
- Complete the LDSS Expression of Interest (EOI) - This is done via the NHS Business Services Authority:
https://online1.snapsurveys.com/Interview/d7ae4538-4f3d-4090-ab7b-590351e41991
Once these two steps are done, you can book learners and later submit claims after they complete.
6. My team have attended the course – how do I claim the funding?
Once your learners have completed the programme:
Log in to the NHSBSA Digital Claims Service.
Gather your evidence: Skills for Care Certificates of Completion, invoice from CareTutor & Proof of payment (for example remittance advice or bank statement)
Enter learner details and upload your evidence.
Submit your claim for reimbursement.
Need help with the claims process?
First, contact the NHS Business Support Authority:
Phone: 0300 330 0522
Email: asclearninganddevelopmentsupport@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
Opening times: Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 9am–3pm
If you still need help, contact CareTutor – we are here to support you
Email: info@caretutor.org
Phone: 020 3129 5667
7. What are the maximum group sizes?
To keep sessions interactive and in line with Skills for Care expectations, we cap groups at:
• Lead to Succeed: up to 16 learners
• Well-Led: up to 16 learners
• LCIC: up to 12 learners
• CPD modules: up to 16 learners
The same limits apply for open and private cohorts.
8. How are the programmes delivered?
All leadership and CPD programmes are delivered live via a virtual platform, using:
• Facilitated discussion and reflection
• Breakout rooms and small-group activities
• Real care scenarios and examples
• Between-module tasks and application to practice
There is no reduction of guided learning time, all sessions meet Skills for Care requirements.
9. What happens if a learner misses a session?
Skills for Care requires learners to attend all modules to receive a certificate. If someone cannot attend a module:
• We will try to move them into the same module in a later cohort (subject to availability).
• Where this is not possible, the learner may need to restart the programme in a future cohort.
• Admin fees or transfer conditions may apply as set out in our booking terms.
We always encourage employers to check availability and rotas carefully before booking.
10. What about reasonable adjustments or additional support for learners?
We are committed to making our leadership programmes inclusive and accessible for all learners.
Before the programme starts, learners are asked as part of the initial assessment and Individual Learning Plan (ILP) whether they require any reasonable adjustments or additional support to take part fully in the sessions. This may include adjustments related to accessibility, learning needs, health, caring responsibilities or technology.
All programmes are delivered using inclusive design principles as standard. This includes live facilitation, clear guidance, accessible materials, subtitles or transcripts where appropriate, and opportunities to engage in different ways during sessions.
If a learner does require a reasonable adjustment, we will work with the learner and their employer to agree appropriate support and put this in place wherever reasonably possible. Learners are also encouraged to raise any support needs at any point during the programme, not just at the start.
If you would like to discuss accessibility or support requirements before booking, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
11. Can we substitute one delegate for another?
Yes, before the programme starts you can transfer a place to another delegate from the same organisation. Once the programme has begun, substitutions may not be possible or may incur an administration fee.
12. Can we book a private cohort?
Yes. We offer private cohorts for organisations that want a closed group for their own leadership team (subject to minimum numbers). Private cohorts benefit from:
• Flexible scheduling around your rotas
• Discussion and examples tailored to your services
• Consistent action planning across your leadership team
Contact us to discuss dates and pricing.
13. What are the typical programme lengths?
In line with Skills for Care guidance, programmes are usually:
• Lead to Succeed: 5 modules (around 18 guided hours
• Well-Led: 4 modules (around 14 guided hours)
• LCIC: 5 modules plus improvement work (around 18 guided hours)
• CPD modules: around 4 guided hours each
These are delivered as half-day sessions spread over several weeks.
14. What do learners need to join the virtual sessions?
Learners need:
• A device with a camera, microphone and speakers (laptop or tablet preferred)
• Stable internet connection
• The ability to join a Virtual meeting via link
We also recommend using headphones and joining a few minutes early to check audio and video.
15. Do learners receive certificates?
Yes. On successful completion of all modules, learners receive an official Skills for Care certificate, which we send digitally to the booking contact. Certificates can be stored in your CareTutor Training Matrix for inspection and LDSS claim evidence.
16. Do these programmes help with CQC and the Single Assessment Framework?
Yes. Skills for Care leadership programmes are widely recognised by CQC and directly support the Well-Led key question, as well as culture, governance, supervision and improvement expectations under the Single Assessment Framework. They provide strong evidence that you are investing in leadership capacity and quality.
17. What if we have a complaint or concern about a course?
We want every learner to have a positive experience. If you have any concerns:
- Raise the issue with us as soon as possible by emailing info@caretutor.org or calling 020 3129 5667.
- We will investigate and respond in line with our Complaints Policy, which is available on our website.